It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, it’s getting chilly out and everyone is starting to get literally sick of taking shots of straight liquor at the bars or elsewhere. Switching it up is never a bad thing, and there are definitely some shots out there that are more interesting than most. Here are a few particularly scintillating ones.

Kamikaze

The Kamikaze, in either cocktail or shot form, is generally made the same way everywhere. Served as a shot, a Kamikaze consists of one part vodka, one part Triple Sec, or Cointreau if you’re feeling fancy, and one part lemon juice. Lime juice is sometimes substituted for the lemon juice, and some bars may use flavored vodka upon request.

Mind Eraser

Another shot that can also be made as a cocktail, the Mind Eraser is a drink that packs an intense taste and potent punch. A Mind Eraser mixes two parts vodka to one part Kahlua and one part Club Soda or Sprite. The resulting combination is delicious and mind blowing. Be careful with this one.

B-52

One of the most fun shots, the B-52 Bomber is a three liquor shot that will impress your friends. The drink is served as a layered shot in a shooter glass. Starting from the bottom up, the drink starts with one part Kahlua, followed by one part Bailey’s Irish Cream, and then one part Grand Marnier floated on top. Depending on where you go, that may be the last step, but if the bartender is especially awesome he will follow the Grand Marnier by lighting it on fire before serving. Just be careful when you go bottoms up.

After Five

If you want to drink something that tastes exactly like a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie, then the After 5 is definitely worth a shot, pun most certainly intended. The shot mixes one part Kahlua and one part Peppermint Schnapps into a shot glass, and then tops it off with one part Baileys. For some extra minty taste, use Mint Baileys instead.

Buttery Nipple

A Buttery Nipple, a.k.a. the Butterball, is an easy shot. No one is entirely sure where the name came from, but it’s always a hit whenever it gets ordered. The mix is simply part Butterscotch Schnapps and one part Baileys. Creamy and delicious, it goes down smooth.

Lemon Drop

Lemon Drops are pretty fun shots that have two different variations. The first involves rimming the edge of a shot glass with sugar and dropping a sugar cube into the glass, then filling it with half vodka and half lemon juice. The second one is more reminiscent of a tequila shot. After putting sugar on a lemon slice, you take a shot of vodka and then bite down on the lemon. Both are pretty tasty and can definitely help to take the edge off of a straight shot of Rubinoff.

Three Wise Men

This shot is known for being one of the most heinous shots out there. The mix is simple: combine equal parts Jim Beam, Johnny Walker, and Jack Daniels into a shot glass and down the resulting concoction. Pretty basic really, but also pretty nasty. There’s also a daunting variation called the Four Horsemen that dares to add Jose Cuervo to the already volatile mix. This one is not for the faint of heart.

Jägerbomb

The infamous Jägerbomb is perhaps the most popular shot in the entire world, which alone earns it a spot on this list. It’s just a shot of Jägermeister dropped into a cup of Red Bull. A few of these in one night might have the same potency that a Four Loko used to have, but it’s a lot more fun and at least you know how much of each you’re drinking.

Irish Car Bomb

The Irish Car Bomb is another fun shot-drop recipe that mixes the three most famous Irish liquors into a drink: Jameson, Baileys, and Guinness. Aptly named, the car bomb comes from literally dropping a shot glass of half Jameson/half Baileys into a pint of Guinness and then chugging the resulting concoction as fast as possible. The Baileys will curdle quickly if it is not consumed on the spot, but it’s actually pretty tasty going down. Speed is a factor on this one.

So next time you’re out and about, reconsider just having another shot of vodka and try one of these shots instead. It will certainly taste better. Just remember to drink responsibly.

Tappan Parker can be reached at [email protected]